Learn to read hydraulic symbols and understand how to interpret complete circuits. We show you the key features that are common in every valve and explain how they are used to control machines. Learn to master these few basic principles and you will soon be able to understand hydraulic equipment and diagnose faults when it breaks down.

Follow a series of videos that explain how each symbol is constructed and the relevance of every part of the valve diagram. We study the range of ISO 1219 standard symbols and provide detailed explanations of how the components work.

This course also introduces many common circuit layouts and explains how to recognise the way each symbol is used to describe how the components work as part of a complete hydraulic system. Students will learn to recognise the standard circuit features and also be able to work out what functions a custom circuit is likely to provide.

Every student is provided with access to a circuit simulation program as a PC download or mobile phone app that will allow you to operate and experiment with examples of the symbols and circuits learned. Interactive experimentation is the best way to fully understand how each component works.

A quiz is provided to test your skills and reinforce what you've learned.